Singapore’s Orchids

As I was showing a journalist around this morning, I came to notice a beautiful orchid arrangement in our main lobby. This floral arrangement caught my attention not only because of its bright and vibrant colors, but also because I found that the orchids, Singapore’s national flower, was a fitting inclusion in our main lobby building which is one of four heritage buildings in Capella Singapore.

As a flower that has come to symbolize beauty and grace across many nations and cultures, the orchid is perhaps one of the most elegant flowers. Orchids are both long lasting and striking, making them the perfect gift for many occasions.

The Vanda Miss Joaquim, an orchid hybrid between the Burmese Vanda teres and the Malayan Vanda hookeriana, was chosen as Singapore’s national flower in 1981. Named after the founder, Agnes Joaquim, it was the first registered plant hybrid from Singapore. Violet-rose in color, the large and broad lip of the orchid looks like a fan and merges into a contrasting fiery orange that is finely spotted with dark purple in the centre.

Orchids can impart a wide variety of messages, with the historical meaning of orchids encompassing wealth, love, and beauty. The Chinese believe orchids can help cure lung illnesses and coughs.

Today, orchids are generally regarded as a symbol of rare and delicate beauty, contributing to their popularity as display plants or decorative features around the world. Their charm and mystique delight those who receive them, for few other flowers have the ability to impress their recipient in the same way that the orchid can.

Given its status as the national flower of Singapore, it is little wonder that the orchid is widely used in most of our floral arrangements throughout the hotel.